Strategies in the color-word Stroop task

Abstract

Three experiments examined subjects’ ability to strategically influence interference from conflicting color words while naming colors. Contingencies introduced between words and colors allowed subjects to predict the value of the reported (color) dimension when given the value of the unreported (word) dimension and thereby to speed processing. Strategies to exploit these contingencies were adopted when only two colors were used and buttonpress responses (Experiment 1) and vocal responses (Experiment 2) were required. When four colors were used (Experiment 3), there was no evidence of the strategy. Implications for the interpretation of existing Stroop data are discussed. © 1984, Psychonomic Society, Inc.. All rights reserved.